4
Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Sunday, October 7, 1984
Blue fight Jekyll-and-Hyde foes
By MIKE MCGRAW
It's getting harder to predict what the
Michigan opponent will look like each week.
Yeah, they've been showing up with the ex-
pected uniform color and headgear, but their
performances during the games have been as'
surprising as a Wolverine pass on first down.
First the defending national champions
come in and literally throw the game away.
Then later, the up-and-coming Big Ten con-
tenders drop the ball at every key moment in
the first half.
BUT THE last two weeks have been the
worst. Two bottom-of-the-ladder conference
foes with strong tendencies toward making
ill-timed costly mistakes go against Michigan
and come up with the game of their lives.
First it was Indiana, with its invisible
defense, and yesterday Michigan State, the
team that has been responsible for more tur-
novers than Pillsbury and was outscored 75-10
in the second half of its previous games.
Both school suddenly came of age, though,
when they saw the Wolverines on the opposite
bench. Thanks to a big break - in Jim Har-
baugh's left arm - the Spartans bounced out
of Ann Arbor with their first win over
Michigan in six years.
"WE'VE HAD A lot of bad luck this
season," said the Spartans' sudden star pun-
ter returner, Robert Morse, "but we put it all
together today."
"We'd been having problems," agreed
quarterback Dave Yarema, "but it was a dif-
ferent feeling today. We had it all together."
Yarema was himself a prime example of
togetherness. He had completed only 46 of his
passes during the month of September and
tossed five interceptions in the process.
Yesterday he smoothed himself into an 18-for-
27 day and suffered only one meaningless
pickoff on the last play of the first half.
SPEAKING OF the half, that's the time
when MSU's game usually packs it up for the
afternoon. But in this facet they once again
played abnormally, keeping the Wolverines
off the board while Ralf Mojsiejenko booted a
pair of field goals, one of which accounted for
the Spartans' first fourth-quarter points of
1984.
Just like the Hoosiers had one the week
before, Michigan State played its first good
game of the season, and as a result, the Spar-
tans avenged last year's 42-0 drubbing by the
Wolverines.
You would think the Spartans would
erupting with delight after socking it to thei
arch rivals, but outside of a little hollering in
the locker room, nobody gave the press any
good quotes that could end up on future lock
er room walls.
"I CAN'T HANG my hat on that "let's get
'em for last year' stuff," said MSU coach
George Perles after the contest. "Those
emotions last with me for maybe a few days."
In fact, Perles was so low key after the
game that he pointed out, "I'm really happy,,
but what's on my mind right now is Indiana
(MSU's next opponent)."
Perhaps Perles has learned his lesson, after
receiving so much publicity and a 40-7 loss to
the Illini, after remarking that Illinois coach
Mike White should have been fired because of
his recruiting violations.
Whatever the cause, Perles and his players
just stood around and repeated the "great win
for the school, it gives us something to build
on for the rest of the season" speech, nothing
you expect these great rivalries to produce.
But we all know how wrong expectations
can be.
Daily Photo by DAN HABIB
Spartan defensive end Kelly Quinn chases Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh during the second
quarter of yesterday's game. Quinn had four tackles in the upset.
Blue Bai
" The last time Michigan and Ohio State
were defeated by Big Ten opponents on the
same day was the last time the Wolverines
lost to Michigan State, October 14, 1978. The
Buckeyes loss that day? Again to Purdue 27-
16.
* The celebs were out in force for yester-
day's game. Among the throng was Michigan
governor James Blanchard, Tiger owner Tom
Monaghan and Tiger players Kirk Gibson and.
Dave Rozema.
" The last time someone returned a punt for
a touchdown against the Wolverines? You
have to turn the calendars back 13 years for
that one. It was Ohio State's Tom Campana in
1971.
+ Both coaches said last season's 42-0
Michigan victory had little effect on yester-
day's game. But signs on the Spartan's
lockers served at least as reminders for the
team. "Last year we got beat 42-0," said tight
end Veno Belk. "And the cpaches put
something in the lockerroom on our lockers
that said, 'BEAT MICHIGAN. THEY BEAT
US 42-0.' It's payback."
" MSU's Robert Morse has a sister who is a
Spartan cheerleader. When asked if she had
anything to say to him after he crossed the
goalline following his 87-yard punt return he
replied, "She just said 'I love you.'
" How tough will it be for the Wolverines
without,quarterback Jim Harbaugh? Just ask
Garland Rivers. "Jim Harbaugh, we need
him real bad," he said. "The second and
third-string (quarterbacks), they didn't look
too good because they weren't ready. But I
think they'll come through."
Spartans steamrol
(Continued from Page 1)
ROBBINS proceded to crunch a howitzer, 78 yards into the MSU en-
dzone. A fired up Wolverine defense stopped Yarema and company
cold. After another Mojsiejenko punt, Michigan had the ball at its own
25-yard line with 11:12 left in the first half.
Michigan's fifth possession of the game looked like a highlight film
from the 1983 season, featuring running backs Rick Rogers and Eddie
Garrett. The drive also ended in '83 style as Garrett rammed the final
one-yard for the score, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 6:56
of the clock.
During the drive, Rogers rushed seven times for 44 yards and looked
like the back who rushed for over 1,000 yards a year ago. Coming into
yesterday's game, Rogers had only carried the ball six times for 13
yards. For the game, the senior from Inkster rushed the ball 14 times
for 64 yards and caught three passes for 26 yards.
BOB BERGERON'S kick made the score 13-7 in favor of State, the
score on which the half ended.
The Spartans elected to receive to open the third quarter but after
picking up two first downs were forced to punt and Michigan took over
at its 20-yard line.
Schembechler admitted to feeling confident as his offense took the
field for its first possession of the second half. "I felt confident at half-
time that we'd win the game. I thought we were playing well enough to
score two or three more times. And I felt certain that our defense
would hold them'scoreless in the secqnd half."
FROM THEIR 20, the Wolverines moved out to their 44 where they
l Michigan, 19-7
were penalized five yards for illegal procedure. On first and 15, Har-
baugh lobbed a 24-yard strike to tight end Sim Nelson. Michigan had
reached the Spartan 37-yard line and was driving.
On the next play, Harbaugh handed off to tailback Morris who
squeezed up the middle for about three yards but fumbled. Seeing the
loose ball, Harbaugh made a desperate dive as did MSU linebacker
Thomas Tyree and strong safety Paul Bobbitt. Bobbitt came up with
the ball and Harbaugh stayed down, his left arm broken and his season
over.
"I jumped on the ball trying to protect it and the quarterback's
shoulder was already on the ground," recalled Tyree. "I guess the im-
pact of my weight broke his shoulder."
I
MICHIGAN'S defense stayed tough and the Spartans had to punt af-
ter three downs. Sophomore Russ Rein replaced Harbaugh, but on his
second play threw a tipped interception to MSU cornerback Lonnie Young.
The Spartans again couldn't move the ball, but were in Mojsiejenko's
range. The senior hit a 49-yard field goal, putting the game out of
reach for Michigan. The quarter ended at 16-7.
Michigan had the ball five more times in the game, but the com-
bination of Rein and Chris Zurbrugg could only produce one first
down. Mojsiejenko added another 30-yard field goal to end the game's
scoring.
"They haven't done it very often (MSU beating Michigan)," said
Schembechler, "but they did it today and they should be
congratulated."
II;1
| Raising Ilel
By PAUL HELGREN
Parity gives Bo.
..
HAT WE see before us is the prospect of witnessing
Bo Schembechler's worst record since he replaced
Bump Elliott back in 1969.
How does 6-5 grab you? How about 5-6? Consider this
horrid thought. The Wolverines could wind up accepting a
bid to the - say it ain't so, Bo - Cherry Bowl in exotic
Pontiac, thankful the pit people were kind enough to have
them.
It is that serious. There seemed to be legitimate reason
for concern when Michigan had to huff and puff just to
come up with victories over their first two Big Ten op-
ponents, Wisconsin and Indiana. Yesterday's 19-7 drub-
bing at the hands of the 1-3 Spartans pretty much removed
all doubt. This is not a particularly strong football team. It
is rather ordinary, possibly no worse and certainly no bet-
ter than the rest of the pack in the Big Ten.
It will take an extraordinary effort to salvage this
season and finish, say 8-4, the mark of the 1979 team and
Bo's worst todate. It will take nothing short of a miracle
to capture the league title and yet another shot at the
roses.
You don't have to be a visionary to see that the outlook is
very grim for Michigan. The Wolverines are without a
quarterback, they lack consistent :play from their offen-
sive line and are still waiting for one of the runnning backs
to come to the forefront.
The record stands at 3-2 now. It could be worse. It might
very well get worse. Even if you consider wins over Nor-
thwestern and Minnesota sure things (can we even take
this for granted anymore?), the other games likely will
see Michigan as underdogs. Iowa, Ohio State and Purdue
are all road games. Illinois, which handled yesterday's
victors 40-7, is at home. A 1-3 mark with these teams is a
genuine possibility. For those of you keeping score, that
comes out to 6-5.
SIX-AND-FIVE! Can it be possible? Could it really hap-
pen? The hard truth is that it could - and very well might
- unless Bo can work some nifty mid-season magic.
Bo was surprisingly calm after yesterday's loss. But he
scooted out of the press room pretty quickly. He probably
went right to work to find an offense. He better find one
quick.
Bo has never faced a situation like this before. He's
never had a team that is so far from being a leading con-
tender for the Big Ten crown. Yes, the 1980 team started
.. .seeds o discontent
out 1-2 and rallied to go undefeated in conference play. But
that team was loaded with offensive stars - Anthony Car-
ter, Butch Woolfolk, John Wangler. This team has never
found a true leader on offense.
Jim Harbaugh might eventually have filled that role,
but he's gone for the season now. And which tailback is
going to carry the load? Is Rogers ready to reassume that
role? And why isn't the running game as devastating as in
the past? Is it the fault of the offensive line or the backs?
Bo would probably point to the improvement of Big Ten
teams as an answer to these questions. No argument
there. All down the line the teams are better. But in the
process of improving, it looks like some of the clubs have
caught and even passed Michigan. If this is parity, then
it's bad news for Wolverine fans, spoiled for years by the
assurance of league domination.
The impotence of the offense has to be especially
disheartening to Bo; While the defense, with stars like
Mike Mallory and Kevin Brooks and a strong supporting
cast, has developed into a formidable crew, the offense
has floundered. And now Bo faces the task of working in
another new quarterback.
Schembechler's not even sure who that will be yet. Both
Russ Rein and Chris Zurbrugg had no game experience
before yesterday and it showed. Rein hit on just two of
seven of his passes with one interception, while Zur-
brugg's numbers were even uglier, 1-4 with two swipes.
The new quarterback - whoever he is - will have to
come through. He has no choice. Some other year Bo could
have said, "Well, let's just give the ball to our 1000-yard
rusher and our devastating offensive line will carry us
through until the new kid at the helm gets some confiden-
ce." He can't do that this year. The same rules just don't
apply anymore. The game has changed from the hey days
of the mid-seventies. And Schembechler must change
with it.
Without an automatic ground game to rely on, Bo will
have to use a little coaching craftiness to eke out some'
wins. That means doing things like throwing on first down,
throwing the bomb on second-and-short. It means a trick
play now and then, a reverse, a fake punt, a fake field
goal. Teams lacking overwhelming talent have been doing
this for years in an effort to win. Now it's Bo's turn.
The alternative is, to coin a phrase, the pits.
Daily Photo by CAROL L. FRANCAVILLA
Michigan's Rick Rogers (20) slithers through the Spartan defense during second half action yesterday. Rogers carried
the pigskin 14 times for 64 yards, supplying more than half the Wolverines' rushing yardage.
SPOR TS OF THE DAIL Y:
Huskers buck Cowboys, 17-3
Over-Stated
,"C RING
MICHIGAN... ..............07-4 -1 7
Michigan St~te.......... ...... 3 t
SCORING PLAYS
MSV - Butler 1-yard runt (MotleJe ako kick)
1 SU-Mus'e 87yard pin retni (kck faled I
MICH-Garret -yard ran 4 Bergeom kick)
M8V-Mosttjpvko49-yard field goal
MV --- viarettenk I42-yard flld goal
Harbaugh.......
Ga rrett...........
Morris
Perryman .>...
P IC
Gates..... ..
Kober"s
Miter ... ......
M wtre ......
T~aemna<._..
s
26
13
t RGAN STATE
Att 'ds
y 10
4 -i2
4.2
2.2,
I-4
2.0
Avg
4.1
2.i
-3.{3
x
0
Markray
Bea) ..> ...............
1 15
t 15
1 1
TD
0
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Shane
Swanson returned a punt 49 yards with
8:51 left to snap a tie and highlight a
fourth-quarter rally yesterday that lif-
ted eighth-ranked Nebraska to a 17-3 vic-
tory over No. 9 Oklahoma State and ex-
tended its domination over the Cowboys
to 23 years.
The Cornhuskers, shut out until
sophomore Dale Klein's 36-yard field
goal at 1:55 of the final quarter, added a
clinching touchdown with 1:49
remaining when backup quarterback
Travis Turner, who directed the
comeback, teamed with split end Jason
Gamble on a 64-yard pass play.
Swanson's electrifying runback
decided a crunching defensive struggle
between two of the nations's stingiest
college football teams.
Penn State 25, Maryland 24
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -
Quarterback Doug Strang passed for
two touchdowns and ran for a third as
Washington 19,
Oregon State 7
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Jeff
Jaeger kicked four field goals yester-
day as third-ranked Washington opened
its Pacific 10 Conference football
season by grinding out a 19-7 victory
over Oregon State.
The Huskies, favored by three
touchdowns, had trouble moving the
ball the Oregon State defense.
But Washington defense, led by cor-
nerback Vestee Jackson,, kept the
Huskies in control. Jackson intercepted
a pass and recovered two fumbles.
Three of Jaeger's field goals came af-
ter Oregon State mistakes - a bobbled
snap by punter' Chip Stempeck, a fum-
ble and an interception.
IMIC HIGlAN STATE
No
MSU tops spikers
EAST LANSING - The women's
volleyball team lost its fourth straight
Big Ten match last night, dropping a 7-
15, 12-15, 16-18 decision to Michigan
State.
"We didn't pass well - that was the
gist of the thing," said coach Barb Can-
ning. "There was a lot of confusion."
Freshman Lisa Vahi played for the
first time this year, and junior Jennifer
Hickman sat out her second straight
game with a possible stress fracture in
her ankle.
The Wolverines will travel next to
Columbus Friday in search of the
teams' first conference victory.
' Belk -..... .. . . . . . .
Morse ...
Gates ..............
Ingram.t. .......
Rolle
s
41
Vds
74 .n
57
24
It
First umns ..~
Rlushig (Att/Vds)
Nvet Passloi Yards.
MICH
134
NMSU
31°
401123
to0
PASSING
MICHIGAN
Att Came Ta
SCORES
New Hampshire 13, Connecticut 12
Penn 35, Columbia 7
Penn St. 25. Maryland 24
RETURTNS
Michigan State19, MICHIGAN 7
Iowa 31, Northwestern 3
Pu..-- 92(thi Ctu.
I ;
Vdi inT
Imi